Dominion

Readings for today: Daniel 7-9

Martin Luther once said that we interpret Scripture through prayer, meditation, and the “tensions of life.” I thought about that last phrase as I read through the chapters from Daniel today. Certainly it’s not hard to see the rise of beasts and kingdoms and evil forces around the world today. The assassinations of political leaders like Charlie Kirk and Melissa Hortman. The attempted assassinations of President Trump and Governor Josh Shapiro. The deadly shootings at schools and churches. The random violence on mass transit systems and in our inner cities. We live in a terrifying world and it’s tempting to read Scripture through the lens of our fear and despair.

Daniel, however, points us a different direction. He certainly is a man well-acquainted with fear. He has seen death and destruction up close and personal. He suffered terribly as he was taken into exile. He has been imprisoned. He has been threatened with death on numerous occasions. He’s been persecuted for his faith. He has spoken God’s truth to pagan kings and emperors at great personal cost. And now he finds himself tormented by dreams of future death and destruction. The visions are so terrifying, Daniel is often incapacitated for days. But even in the midst of those dreams, Daniel is given a vision of hope. The Ancient of Days sitting on His throne. One like the Son of Man coming on the clouds. Unlike all the other kingdoms, His Kingdom will be an everlasting Kingdom and He will reign forever.

It’s worth reading again. Especially in light of recent events. “As I kept watching, thrones were set in place, and the Ancient of Days took his seat. His clothing was white like snow, and the hair of his head like whitest wool. His throne was flaming fire; its wheels were blazing fire. A river of fire was flowing, coming out from his presence. Thousands upon thousands served him; ten thousand times ten thousand stood before him. The court was convened, and the books were opened. I watched, then, because of the sound of the arrogant words the horn was speaking. As I continued watching, the beast was killed and its body destroyed and given over to the burning fire. As for the rest of the beasts, their dominion was removed, but an extension of life was granted to them for a certain period of time. I continued watching in the night visions, and suddenly one like a Son of Man was coming with the clouds of heaven. He approached the Ancient of Days and was escorted before him. He was given dominion and glory and a kingdom, so that those of every people, nation, and language should serve  him. His dominion is an everlasting dominion that will not pass away, and his kingdom is one that will not be destroyed.” (Daniel‬ ‭7‬:‭9‬-‭14‬ ‭CSB‬‬)

Friends, Jesus is the Son of Man. The Ancient of Days has given Him dominion and glory and a kingdom so that people every tribe, tongue, and nation will serve Him. His dominion is everlasting. His Kingdom cannot be destroyed. No matter how dark things may get, look to Jesus and let your hopes rise again!

Readings for tomorrow: Daniel 10-12

Prayer

Readings for today: Daniel 4-6

Daniel was given a powerful position within Babylonian society. He had the ear of the king. He was known for his wisdom and godly character. He never sought personal gain. Never used political maneuvering for his own personal benefit. Never sought power or privilege or higher status. His allegiance was to a much higher authority. He lived for God alone and this made his position unassailable. When his political enemies came after him, they found nothing to pin on him. They dug up no dirt. They found no one who would speak against Daniel. Daniel’s deep faith led to true freedom. He was free to speak God’s truth to Nebuchadnezzer. Free to confront him on his pride and arrogance. Free to give him the bad news about the meaning of his dreams. Daniel was free to call Nebuchadnezzer to repent which he eventually did.

“King Nebuchadnezzar, To those of every people, nation, and language, who live on the whole earth: May your prosperity increase. I am pleased to tell you about the miracles and wonders the Most High God has done for me. How great are his miracles, and how mighty his wonders! His kingdom is an eternal kingdom, and his dominion is from generation to generation…But at the end of those days, I, Nebuchadnezzar, looked up to heaven, and my sanity returned to me. Then I praised the Most High and honored and glorified him who lives forever: For his dominion is an everlasting dominion, and his kingdom is from generation to generation. All the inhabitants of the earth are counted as nothing, and he does what he wants with the army of heaven and the inhabitants of the earth. There is no one who can block his hand or say to him, “What have you done?”…Now I, Nebuchadnezzar, praise, exalt, and glorify the King of the heavens, because all his works are true and his ways are just. He is able to humble  those who walk in pride.” (Daniel‬ ‭4‬:‭1‬-‭3‬, ‭34‬-‭35‬, ‭37‬ ‭CSB)‬‬

Where did Daniel find such freedom? Prayer. He humbly presented himself before the Lord multiple times a day. He came before the Lord with praise. He confessed his sins. He lifted up his needs and the needs of his people. And I am convinced Daniel prayed fervently for the kings he served like Nebuchadnezzer. Sometimes it is tempting to think we have it bad in our country. To think our leaders have reached a level of corruption that places them beyond the grace of God. Especially in the wake of political violence. But nothing could be further from the truth! Nebuchadnezzer was one of the world’s great tyrants. When Peter and Paul talked about honoring and praying for the emperor, they were talking about Nero of Rome. Christians throughout the centuries and throughout the world today suffer under the harshest of regimes and still they pray for their leaders. Can we do any less?

Readings for tomorrow: Daniel 7-9

Daniel

Readings for today: Daniel 1-3

Daniel is one of my favorites. He is a great example, perhaps the pre-eminent example, of how to live a life of faith in a hostile land. Though the book doesn’t say it, Daniel must have suffered terribly. Dragged from his homeland as a teenager. Force marched to Babylon. Drafted into the service of a pagan king. He was confronted with all kinds of challenges, everything from the food he ate to the prayers he prayed. He could easily have compromised his convictions along the way. Gone along to get along. But Daniel remained faithful. He could easily have lashed out at his captors. Sought to undermine their authority. Rebelled in small but subtle ways. But Daniel never wavered in his commitment to serve God in a foreign land. The result? Daniel set an example that would impact generations. In fact, many scholars believe the wise men who went searching for Jesus were heavily influenced by ancient Jewish prophecies handed down, perhaps even by Daniel and his colleagues themselves.

I find myself going back to Daniel over and over again. Especially as Western culture seemingly grows more hostile to Christianity. Many who share my faith believe we should take a more forceful posture. They always seem spoiling for a fight. They seem to enjoy calling down judgment on those who do not share our faith in the public square. They believe the reason Christianity is failing in the West is because many Christian leaders are cowards. I wonder what they would say to Daniel if he were alive today? Would they accuse him of being a collaborator? Would they call him a coward? Would they suggest he should have called for armed rebellion against his pagan overlord? I honestly don’t know. I imagine they would argue that they simply look to other examples from Scripture to meet the demands of this cultural moment. For my part, I prefer Daniel’s example. It’s why I always try to serve as a good faith partner with our local, state, and national government officials. I have had the privilege over the last five years especially to engage leaders at all levels of government as we navigated COVID, balanced anti-discrimination laws with First Amendment religious freedoms, advocated for a more Christian approach to public policy when it comes to issues like abortion, gender and sexuality, immigration, and criminal justice. It’s not been easy. But “easy” is not what I signed up for. And every time I find myself getting discouraged, I try to remember to turn to Daniel.

Fundamentally, Daniel understood a deep and profound truth. This world is not our home. It didn’t matter whether he was serving in Jerusalem or Babylon. It didn’t matter whether he lived in the Promised Land or in exile. It didn’t matter whether he served in his home culture or a hostile, pagan culture. His faith in God remained the same. He knew God was sovereign. He knew God was faithful. He knew God would protect him and provide for him and sustain him. Most of all, he knew God could use him. Use him to bring light to darkness. Hope to the hopeless. Wisdom to those who were lost. Just like God can use you and me today.

Readings for tomorrow: Daniel 4-6

Water of Life

Readings for today: Ezekiel 45-48

In a few weeks, I will land in Entebbe, Uganda. As we drive north to our assignment, we will spend time on the shores of Lake Victoria. Lake Victoria is the world’s largest tropical lake and the second largest freshwater lake. It is a huge natural resource for three different countries - Uganda, Kenya, and Tanzania. As the world’s largest freshwater fishery, it sustains millions of people. I have taken tours of this lake. I’ve seen the fishermen with their nets. The birds that nest in the trees along its banks. The sheer abundance of life it produces. I have seen the underwater springs that form the headwaters of the Nile River, another body of water that provides life for millions of people. It’s incredible.

I have also been in desert places where there is no water. I have seen drought conditions that created starvation and famine. I have spent time with people who survive in these places, living off the small amounts of seasonal rainfall that take place every year. The population in these places is scarce. There is so little to sustain life. No animals. No birds. No trees. Nothing much grows from the ground. It’s a hard life. Perhaps that’s why I love the vision given to Ezekiel in our passage today. A life-giving river flowing from the Temple into the Arabah which is another word for desert place. The water starts as a trickle, much like the Nile starts as a spring, but soon becomes a river so deep and so wide, it cannot be crossed. This river flows down into the Dead Sea, turning what was once toxic into freshwater. Water that can produce and sustain life. Trees begin to spring up along its banks, bearing fruit and offering healing. It’s a beautiful picture of what God wants to do in our world.

The key to this vision lies in the restoration of the Temple. For several chapters now, God has been showing Ezekiel what will happen when true worship is restored in Israel. The Temple will be rebuilt. The priesthood purified and restored. The sacrificial system renewed. The people of God will worship God with a new heart and a new spirit and a new desire to follow His commands. As this happens, a river will begin to trickle out from the Temple. It will rise and soon turn into a flood, overwhelming all the death and destruction and devastation. The same holds true for us today. The same holds true for the church today. When the church worships God in spirit and in truth, life begins to flow into the community where it is planted. Fruit is produced. Healing takes place. Restoration and renewal takes root in the desert places where death once reigned.

Readings for tomorrow: Daniel 1-3

Presence

Readings for today: Ezekiel 41-44

There is nothing like experiencing the glory of the Lord’s presence in your life. Unexpected times when He makes Himself known to us through a sunrise or on a hike in the mountains or at the shore of a pristine lake or powerful ocean. Tender times when He makes Himself known to us in our weakness and vulnerability. The loss of a loved one. A fearful diagnosis. The breakdown of a close relationship. Redemptive times when He makes Himself known to us in our failure and sin. A mistake that costs us dearly. A fall that causes all kinds of pain. A self-destructive choice that ripples out into our lives. This is true for us not only personally but collectively as well. Powerful times of worship with God’s people. Seasons of revival in life when entire churches and communities experience the power of His presence. I’ve even witnessed entire villages and regions bowing the knee to Jesus Christ as He makes Himself known through miraculous signs and wonders. It’s amazing.

As Ezekiel’s visions come to a close, he sees the glory of the Lord firsthand and it brings him to his knees in awe and wonder and worship. It reminds him of earlier times in his life when he saw the glory of God destroy the city or visit him down by the Chebar River. This vision, however, is different. God is returning to His city. God is returning to His Temple. God is returning to His people. It’s a vision of hope. A vision of a future where God’s people will be purified and sanctified and made holy. A vision of a time coming when they will serve the Lord with all their hearts and cast aside their idolatry. It’s a vision of national revival. The renewal of a nation. The return of Israel from exile. It was overwhelming. And it serves as a great reminder to us that all is never lost. Not with God. Even in the darkest moments of our lives, He is with us and He is working out His plan for us.

I recently came across the account of a pastor who lived in Europe during the Second World War. His community had become the epicenter of a great battle between the Allied Forces and Nazi Germany. One evening as the sun was setting over the horizon, both armies pulled back to regroup. A great silence fell over the battlefield. He looked up in the waning daylight to see the spire of a church still standing tall despite the shelling that had taken place that day. It gave him hope. All of a sudden, a lone artillery shell came out of nowhere and blew the spire apart. A flock of birds happened to be resting on that spire and as the shell came in, they simply lifted up above the destruction, and once the dust had settled, nested back down in the ruins. The pastor later wrote, “It felt like the glory of God to me. Rising above all the chaos and tumult of our world and then resting back down with us in the ruins.” I think that’s about right.

We do not place our hope in anything built by human hands. Not Temples. Not churches. Not great cities or empires. All of them will eventually come crumbling down. The only hope we have is God. And the only way we will taste that hope is to experience His presence. And the only way we will experience His presence is by cultivating a deep, abiding awareness of Him in our daily lives through prayer and worship and meditation on His Word. Friends, God promises to make Himself known to all who seek Him with their whole heart.

Readings for tomorrow: Ezekiel 45-48

Return

Readings for today: Ezekiel 37-40

The people of Israel represent one of history’s great anomalies. There is no human reason they should continue to exist. There is no earthly reason why there should be a nation of Israel today. She has faced extinction level events so many times throughout her history. So many nations have sought her destruction over the centuries. Egypt. Canaan. Assyria. Babylon. Those are just the ones mentioned in the Bible. In modern times, one only has to look at the pogroms in Europe or Russia or the Middle East. The fact that she not only has survived but also thrives is truly a miracle. A sign of God’s great love and faithfulness. A sign that God’s covenant endures forever.

Does that mean Israel never errs? Of course not. The Bible is honest about her many failings. It’s why God withdrew His protective hand when the pagan nations around her attacked. It’s why God allowed Jerusalem to be destroyed. It’s why God sent His people into exile in Babylon. He judged them in righteousness for their idolatry, corruption, greed, injustice, and oppression. He never gives them a pass. He doesn’t have a blind spot when it comes to His people. He sees all. He knows all. And He refuses to let their sin go unpunished. By the way, this is as true today as it has ever been for God is the same yesterday, today, and forever.

However, having said all that, it is equally clear God’s ultimate goal for Israel is restoration. Even while they are in exile, He works tirelessly for their return. He gives Ezekiel visions of dry bones coming together into living, breathing bodies. Two sticks with the names of Judah and Joseph upon them. God shows the prophet a vision of a new Temple and even takes him on a virtual tour of the building so he can see all God will one day do when He brings His people home from exile. It’s a powerful reminder of God’s faithfulness to Himself, His promises, and His people. Listen again to Ezekiel’s description. “Now I will restore the fortunes of Jacob and have compassion on the whole house of Israel,  and I will be jealous for my holy name. They will feel remorse for their disgrace and all the unfaithfulness they committed against me, when they live securely in their land with no one to frighten them. When I bring them back from the peoples and gather them from the countries of their enemies, I will demonstrate my holiness through them in the sight of many nations. They will know that I am the Lord their God when I regather them to their own land after having exiled them among the nations. I will leave none of them behind. I will no longer hide my face from them, for I will pour out my Spirit on the house of Israel. This is the declaration of the Lord God.” (Ezekiel‬ ‭39‬:‭25‬-‭29‬ ‭CSB‬‬)

I will restore Jacob and the whole house of Israel. I will bring them back from the countries of their enemies. I will regather them to their own land. I will leave none behind. I will no longer hide my face. I will pour out my Spirit. This is the declaration of the Lord. These are incredibly powerful words that will be fulfilled when Ezra returns to rebuild the Temple and Nehemiah returns to rebuild the wall. Not only that but we see the same dynamic taking place throughout history as God preserves and protects His people, refusing to let them be finally destroyed. The Jewish people have endured so much over the centuries. They have been harassed and attacked and targeted by almost every society on earth. Blamed for all kinds of terrible things. Cast as the nefarious subjects of all kinds of crazy conspiracy theories. And still they survive when other people groups and cultures have come and gone. Where is Babylon today? Where is Assyria today? Where are the Canaanite tribes today? Still Israel remains. Why? Because God is faithful.

Readings for tomorrow: No devotionals on Sundays

Holiness

Readings for today: Ezekiel 33-36

Holiness. A term that has definitely fallen out of favor. People talk about being “real”, being “authentic”, being “transparent” but rarely talk about being “holy.” People seem to have no problem sharing their struggles with mental or emotional health. They seem to have no problem talking about all the skeletons that live in their closet. In fact, it seems like the greater a person’s struggles, the greater the credibility they have in our therapeutic society. The greater their brokenness, the more attention they receive. I think of all the celebrities or influencers who have monetized their pain and scandals and heartbreak and mistakes. I think of the number of preachers I know who go to great lengths to prove how relatable they are by confessing their sin publicly or lacing their sermons with profanity or getting sleeve tattoos. It’s almost become cliche.

Whatever happened to the pursuit of holiness? Whatever happened to “be holy because I am holy?” Why have so many given up the chase? Why have so many stopped even trying? Is it because it feels forever out of reach? Is it because we have emphasized grace at the expense of God’s law? Is it because, as I suspect, we have lost sight of God? Reduced Him down to our size? Remade Him in our own image? Taken Him for granted? This was the mistake Israel made and it’s why the prophet Ezekiel confronts them yet again with the call to holiness. “This is what the Lord God says: It is not for your sake that I will act, house of Israel, but for my holy name, which you profaned among the nations where you went. I will honor the holiness of my great name, which has been profaned among the nations, the name you have profaned among them. The nations will know that I am the Lord - this is the declaration of the Lord God - when I demonstrate my holiness through you in their sight.” (Ezekiel‬ ‭36‬:‭22‬-‭23‬ ‭CSB‬‬) Clearly, God expected His people to be holy. He expected them to live in such a way that they reflected God’s holiness to the nations around them. In fact, He called and created and chose them to reflect His holiness in the world. And the same is true for us.

At the same time, we all know true holiness is beyond us. We all know we fall short. We all know we sin. We all know we are not perfect. So how in the world can we actually “be holy as God is holy?” Listen again to Ezekiel. “For I will take you from the nations and gather you from all the countries, and will bring you into your own land. I will also sprinkle clean water on you, and you will be clean. I will cleanse you from all your impurities and all your idols. I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit within you; I will remove your heart of stone and give you a heart of flesh. I will place my Spirit within you and cause you to follow my statutes and carefully observe my ordinances. You will live in the land that I gave your ancestors; you will be my people, and I will be your God.” (Ezekiel‬ ‭36‬:‭24‬-‭28‬ ‭CSB‬‬) The bottom line is God knows we can’t achieve holiness on our own so He actually does it for us. He gives us a new heart. He gives us a new spirit. He washes us clean. He removes all our impurities. He gives the godly desire to follow His commands. Most of all, He promises to be our God. To be with us every step of the way. It is actually His presence in our lives that makes us holy. It is our proximity to Him that sanctifies us. And all we have to do is embrace Him to be holy.

Readings for tomorrow: Ezekiel 37-40

Redemptive Justice

Readings for today: Ezekiel 29-32

Many years ago, I had a long discussion with a dear friend. Someone I loved and respected. A fellow clergy person, though he was a Muslim and I was a Christian. For months we debated the nature of God’s justice. We probed the differences between Islam and Christianity. We wrestled over the problem of evil in the world and why God allows it. It was a wonderful discussion that challenged both of us. At the end of the day, I am not sure we moved the needle much for each other but we definitely came to a more clear understanding of how each of our respective faith’s define the justice of God.

I found myself thinking of my friend as I read these passages from Ezekiel. He would have appreciated them. For him, they describe God’s retributive justice perfectly. God deals with evil by sending it to hell. He deals with those who commit great evil by punishing them and sending them to the underworld. All those who attacked God’s people get their due. All the pagan nations finally meet their fate. God gives none of them a pass. He refuses to relent until he has utterly broken them. There’s something deep in all of us that can appreciate what God does here especially when we consider some of the horrific crimes committed against humanity throughout history.

God, however, is not in the business of retributive justice, even for the enemies of His people. What God wants is redemptive justice. A justice that restores rather than destroys. A justice focused more on rehabilitation than on punishment. A justice that expiates the guilty rather than condemns them. This is where Christians part ways with our Muslim friends. Islam has no mechanism for redemptive justice. All justice is ultimately retributive unless Allah decides - arbitrarily - to show mercy. Christianity, on the other hand, offers Jesus as a substitute in our place. Jesus makes atonement for our sin by enduring the full measure of God’s righteous judgment on sin and evil. He suffers the just penalty for sin by dying the death we deserved.

In today’s reading, the seeds of redemptive justice are sown. Over and over again, throughout this section, we see the purpose behind God’s judgment. “Then they’ll realize I am God.” God wants the nations to acknowledge His Lordship. He wants them to set aside their idols and submit to His rule and reign. He wants them to bring an end to oppression and abuse and greed and exploitation and instead, walk in His ways. He wants the same for us as well.

Readings for tomorrow: Ezekiel 33-36

Mockery

Readings for today: Ezekiel 25-28

Mockery. Vengeance. Pride. All themes from today’s reading that incur the judgment of God. Rather than lament over the sins of God’s people and the destruction of Jerusalem, the pagan nations rejoice. They eagerly pile on. They take it too far. They take advantage of Israel’s weakness to enact their own revenge. In their pride, they think they are immune. They think they are safe. They think they will escape God’s judgment. Not so! God will make an example of them as well. They will come to see Him as sovereign over all the nations not just Israel. He is the God of gods, not bound to a particular tribe or territory. The earth and all that is in it falls under His reign and rule. He will make Himself known in power and glory among the peoples of the earth so they will acknowledge Him and come to worship Him.

Mockery. Vengeance. Pride. These themes still run rampant today. Rather than grieve over sin, we rejoice in the downfall of our enemies. Rather than show restraint, we take advantage of any weakness to exact revenge. Rather than walk in humility before the Lord, we start to believe in our own righteousness. It’s a brutal cycle, eternally on repeat. Recently, I’ve been heartbroken to see these attitudes manifest themselves among believers. Whether in interpersonal relationships or among particular groups in particular movements, it seems like mockery, vengeance, and pride are on the rise. More and more Christians seem to be opting for a hostile, judgmental, self-righteous posture towards those they love and live among or towards the world around them. They even attack fellow believers, accusing them of cowardice and weakness and mocking biblical values like gentleness, humility, and love. I have to admit I find it utterly baffling.

The bottom line is this…sin should grieve us. It should break our hearts. Whether we see it on a personal level between people or we see it on an organizational level in businesses, schools, or churches or we see it on a national level with our government. Rather than drive us to mockery or pride or arrogance or self-righteousness, it should bring us to our knees in prayer. It should drive us to speak up and speak out but in grace and love. It should drive us to advocate and work for righteousness but in humility. Because we know God will not be mocked. We know vengeance belongs to Him alone. We know God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble. And so we place our trust in Him.

Readings for tomorrow: Ezekiel 29-32

Intercession

Readings for today: Ezekiel 21-24

One of the commitments I made to the Lord when I became a pastor was to become an intercessor for the people I served. Someone who would stand in the gap for them in prayer. Someone who would lift them up before the Lord. Someone who would present their needs to God and ask for provision. Someone who would present their hurts to God and ask for healing. Someone who would call on God continually to fill them with His Spirit, sanctify them with His presence, and send them in His power to proclaim the gospel to the world. I am the first to admit this hasn’t always been easy. As a pastor I get pulled in a lot of different directions. It’s all too easy to substitute a whole bunch of activity for the discipline of prayer. Furthermore, the community I served has grown. It takes me about a month to pray through our directory. But I try to do it faithfully and regularly because I believe in the power of prayer. And I believe God is looking for people to stand in the gap in prayer for His people and for the world.

Perhaps that’s why I love this line from our reading today. “I searched for a man among them who would repair the wall and stand in the gap before me on behalf of the land so that I might not destroy it, but I found no one.” (‭‭Ezekiel‬ ‭22‬:‭30‬ ‭CSB‬‬) It’s a sobering reminder to me of the importance of prayer. The importance of intercession. The importance of putting oneself at risk for the sake of the community and call on God for protection. In the ancient world, the most dangerous place to be was at the point where a wall had been breached. This is where your enemies would mass to invade your city. Those caught in these places would be in harm’s way. Their lives would be at great risk. Their chances of survival were slim. And yet, it was also where they were most needed. If a wall broke down, the only hope a city had was the brave soldiers who would rush in to fill the gap and protect the lives of those they served.

The tragic reality of our readings from Ezekiel is that Israel’s leaders had abandoned their posts. Spiritual breach after spiritual breach had occurred as they forsook the faith of their forefathers, Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. As they abandoned the covenant God had made with them. And no one was left to stand in the gap. There was no Moses to intercede on behalf of God’s people, calling on God to spare them from destruction. What about us? What about our homes? Our families? Our churches? Our communities? Have we abandoned our posts in a similar fashion or are we willing to take our stand in the gap and intercede on behalf of those we love and serve before the Lord?

Readings for tomorrow: Ezekiel 25-28

God’s Name

Readings for today: Ezekiel 17-20

One of the hardest things for us to get our minds around when we read the Scriptures is the absolute authority and sovereignty of God as king. We don’t like kings. We fought a rebellion to get rid of kings. We pride ourselves on living in a democracy where everyone gets to have a say through their vote. We believe fundamentally that our leaders are elected to represent the “will of the people” which makes it challenging when we start to read the Scriptures and realize the Kingdom of heaven doesn’t work that way.

God is king. His authority is absolute. His sovereignty is unchallenged. His glory cannot be compared with anything in earth, over the earth, or under the earth. He is not the same as us. He is not the best version of us. He is not a projection of us. He certainly doesn’t work for us or represent us. He rules over us. He reigns over all He has made. He sits on a throne in heaven even now and, as such, He has every right to judge the earth. Every right to judge those who live on the earth. Every right to call us to account for all we have done. We may not think it fair but then God begins to recount all our misdeeds. Every sinful thought. Every careless word. Every selfish action. And we realize we are without excuse. God’s judgment is just. His sentence of death is righteous. And we are without hope.

The only thing that keeps us from death and destruction is God Himself. From eternity, God made a decision. He decided He would have a people to call His very own. He freely bound Himself to a particular people in a covenant of grace. And by doing so, He puts His reputation on the line. This is why He relents over and over again from putting an end to Israel. How many times do we come across these words in today’s reading…“But I acted for the sake of my name, so that it would not be profaned in the eyes of the nations in whose sight I had brought them out.” (Ezekiel‬ ‭20‬:‭14‬ ‭CSB‬‬) God refuses to let His people go because to do so would betray the very covenant He made. And to betray that covenant would be to profane His own name among the nations. They would assume God is unfaithful to His own promises. Powerless to overcome sin and evil. Impotent when it comes to ruling His own people. And God simply will not allow this to happen. So He remains faithful despite the unfaithfulness of His people. He judges them in righteousness and disciplines them in His wrath. He brings them to their knees in repentance and then He restores them to the Promised Land. God does all these things to make His name known on the earth and make His name great among the nations.

But it doesn’t end there. In the ultimate act of love and faithfulness, God sends His only, eternally begotten Son to become one of us. He sends Him into the world to live among us and serve us and suffer for us and die in our place. He then raises Him to new life in a glorious resurrection to give the world a foretaste of what will one day come when He comes to make all things new. Make no mistake, Jesus was sent to make God’s name known and make God’s name great among the nations. It’s why Jesus’ last command is that we would be His witnesses in Jerusalem, Judea, Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.

Readings for tomorrow: Ezekiel 21-24

Whitewash

Readings for today: Ezekiel 13-16

I remember trying to paint a fence when I was younger. Rather than do the hard work to prep it by scraping off the old paint and sanding it down so it could receive a new finish, I just tried to slather a thick coat of paint over it with the hopes it would hide the imperfections. The result was a mess, of course. I had just made the job that much harder because I now had to go back and undo all I had done in addition to the original work I should have done so I could get it right.

How often do we make this same mistake in our life with God? Rather than surrender to Him and let His Spirit tear our old lives down to the studs, scraping off all the sin and corruption, and sanding us down to get us ready to receive the new life He offers; we try to justify ourselves by our own effort. We try to sanctify ourselves by trying and working harder. We try to show how virtuous we are by living one way on the outside but refuse to address what’s really going on inside our hearts. The result is a mess. The same thing happens if we try to live a double life. Trying to have it both ways. Loving the things of God and the things of this world. It just doesn’t work and I can’t tell you the number of conversations I’ve had over the years, trying to help people see that simply whitewashing their lives with a little Jesus isn’t what the Christian life is all about. It’s about total and complete surrender.

This isn’t a new problem, of course. Ezekiel faced this same issue when talking with God’s people as they went into exile. They were asking all kinds of hard questions. Why had this happened? How could God let Jerusalem be destroyed? Had God’s promises somehow failed? Had God abandoned them? The answers to these questions were not easy to accept. God was actually behind the destruction of their entire way of life because it had become so corrupt and so sinful, the only solution was to essentially scrape it all and start over. The only way forward to begin anew. “Since the false prophets have led my people astray by saying, “Peace,”  when there is no peace, and since when a flimsy wall is being built, they plaster it with whitewash, therefore, tell those plastering it with whitewash that it will fall. Torrential rain will come, and I will send hailstones plunging down, and a whirlwind will be released. When the wall has fallen, will you not be asked, “Where’s the whitewash you plastered on it?” So this is what the Lord God says: I will release a whirlwind in my wrath. Torrential rain will come in my anger, and hailstones will fall in destructive fury. I will demolish the wall you plastered with whitewash and knock it to the ground so that its foundation is exposed. The city will fall, and you will be destroyed within it. Then you will know that I am the Lord.” (Ezekiel‬ ‭13‬:‭10‬-‭14‬ ‭CSB‬‬)

Then you will know that I am the Lord. The ultimate goal of God’s discipline is never destruction but repentance and restoration. God is always faithful. He is faithful in love and He is faithful in justice. He is faithful in grace and He is faithful in law. He is faithful in mercy and He is faithful to call us to account. The Lord disciplines those He loves in order to bring them back into a right and righteous relationship with Himself. Stop trying to whitewash your life. Stop trying wallpaper over your sin. Trust God’s promise. “If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us and cleanse us from all unrighteousness.” (1 John 1:9)

Readings for tomorrow: No devotionals on Sundays

Return

Readings for today: Ezekiel 9-12

In our current frame of reference, material wealth and physical health and overall prosperity are all signs of God’s blessing on our lives while material poverty, mental and physical health issues, and failure, struggle, and suffering are all signs of God’s judgment or God’s curse upon our lives. But what if our frame of reference shifted to a more biblical worldview? One where seasons of exile and judgment and suffering are not curses but actually part of God’s work to refine and sanctify us? Would we then be willing to go where He leads?

The reality is we often take the Lord for granted. We act as if He’s “trapped” in a relationship with us. As if God is “bound” by His unconditional love for us. We falsely believe our thoughts, attitudes, and actions don’t matter. We falsely believe we can reject holiness as a way of life. We falsely believe God’s primary goal is our personal happiness. Nothing could be farther from the truth. God does love us with an everlasting love. God does love us unconditionally. Nothing can snatch us out of His hand. Yes. Yes. And yes. But make no mistake, God is not “bound” to us or “trapped” in this relationship. He is not co-dependent on us nor does He allow our whims, our feelings, our desires to shape His will for our lives. We sin at our own risk. We run ahead of God at our own peril. We stubbornly refuse to follow Him to our own detriment. And this leads to God’s judgment on our lives, our communities, even our nation.

Thankfully, even in the midst of overwhelming judgment, Ezekiel sounds a note of hope. Presumably, God could have chosen to leave His Temple and head in any direction. However, He went east. East to where the exiles lived. East to Babylon. East to find His wayward children. East to be with them in captivity. East to comfort them in their diaspora. East to provide for them and make them prosper. East to join them so they never would be alone. Friends, God’s glory doesn’t need a Temple or a house made with human hands or a sanctuary covered in gold. The Bible declares that we are temples of the Holy Spirit. Our hearts have become the residence of God Himself. This is why Ezekiel declares, “Therefore say, ‘This is what the Lord God says: Though I sent them far away among the nations and scattered them among the countries, yet for a little while I have been a sanctuary for them in the countries where they have gone.’ “Therefore say, ‘This is what the Lord God says: I will gather you from the peoples and assemble you from the countries where you have been scattered, and I will give you the land of Israel.’ “When they arrive there, they will remove all its abhorrent acts and detestable practices from it. I will give them integrity of heart and put a new spirit within them; I will remove their heart of stone from their bodies and give them a heart of flesh, so that they will follow my statutes, keep my ordinances, and practice them. They will be my people, and I will be their God.” (Ezekiel‬ ‭11‬:‭16‬-‭20‬ ‭CSB‬‬)

Readings for tomorrow: Ezekiel 13-16

Justice

Readings for today: Ezekiel 5-8

God is just. It’s a fundamental attribute of His divine character. He will not let the guilty go unpunished. He will not let evil escape judgment. He will not let those who commit crimes get off. He is fiercely committed to enforcing His Law. And, in the abstract, I think everyone expects God to be just. We want Him to judge the guilty. We want those who commit great evil to get their due. We just don’t ever want it to happen to us.

God’s justice is a common theme in the prophets. God’s people have been stockpiling sin for generations. God has graciously withheld His righteous judgment to give them ample opportunity to repent but eventually justice must have it’s day. Ezekiel lives in such a time. Israel is finally going to pay for her sins. She is going to pay for all the abuse of power, arrogance and pride, violence, oppression, exploitation, and idolatry she has committed. There is no question of her guilt. God sees all and knows all. Not a single crime escapes His notice. His ledger is full and detailed. As harsh as it may seem, they’ve earned all they’re going to get. The destruction of Jerusalem. The suffering and death of so many at the hands of the Babylonians. God refuses to relent until every last sin is paid for in full.

I recently came across a thread on social media from a well-known, very progressive rabbi. He spends a lot of time harshly critiquing the Christian faith. One of his main critiques is the lack of justice in our faith. He simply believes a God who forgives is unjust. He is not worthy of worship. Yes, he knows atonement theology. He knows we believe Jesus became our substitute and took God’s judgment on Himself. He just simply cannot bring himself to believe it. In fact, he gets angry when anyone presses him on it. He believes such an act makes God unrighteous. How could a just God punish the innocent in place of the guilty? What he misses, of course, or simply cannot accept, is the fact that Jesus is God Incarnate. God Himself taking on human flesh and becoming one of us in order that He might stand in our place. God didn’t just choose some random person to pay for the sins of the world. He didn’t sacrifice a prophet or good, moral teacher in our place. He laid down His own life to satisfy the demands of divine justice so that He, in turn, might show us mercy. That’s what the gospel is all about and it continues to be a “stumbling block to Jews and foolishness to Gentiles.”

I know it’s not easy to read through passages like the one we read today. The blood and violence and righteous anger of God is disturbing. And yet, it should remind us yet again of the unbelievable sacrifice Jesus made on our behalf. It should fill our hearts with gratitude for all Jesus has done for us. Jesus took my place. Jesus stood in my stead. Jesus paid the price I had earned. He endured the punishment I deserved. He did this so that I might be washed clean, set free, and live with Him for all eternity.

Readings for tomorrow: Ezekiel 9-12

Unlikely Places

Readings for today: Ezekiel 1-4

God shows up in the most unlikely of places. Though we tend to associate Him with beautiful cathedrals and magnificent churches, God makes His dwelling with the humble and lowly of heart. Ezekiel was such a man. Born to be a priest, he was carried off into exile with the other leaders of his people. He was a contemporary of Jeremiah and must have heard his preaching. Jeremiah often preached to the ruling class in Jerusalem. He may have even known the man personally. But now Ezekiel finds himself in exile. He lives with his people in a refugee camp. And he spends days down by the local water source, pondering all that happened. He must have felt the deepest of despair. He must have felt separated from God. He must have felt abandoned and alone and afraid. That’s when God shows up.

It’s a striking vision. One that has inspired all kinds of fantastical art throughout the centuries. Ezekiel sees a vision of God on His throne coming to be with His people in exile. And as stunning as the creatures are with their multiple heads and wheels within wheels, what would have struck Ezekiel the most is God’s faithfulness. After all, Ezekiel had been trained from birth that God’s dwelling place was in the Temple. The Temple was holy ground. The Holy of Holies in the Temple is where God’s glory dwelled. There was no precedent for God leaving the Temple. No historical record of God coming and going from the most holy place. All of Israel assumed that if one wanted to meet with God, one had to show up physically at the Temple and have the priest intercede for them. But now Ezekiel is in the worst possible place in the world. If you haven’t been to one, refugee camps are some of the worst places on earth. He’s living in abject poverty on the brink of starvation. There is nothing holy about his condition. No sacred ground for him to stand on. And yet, God is willing to meet him there.

Now think about Jesus. God could have sent Jesus to be born of a virgin in a palace in Jerusalem. God could have sent Jesus to emerge bodily from the Holy of Holies at the Temple. God could have done any number of things to reveal Himself to His people but what did God do? He came to a poor couple living in a backwater town in rural Israel. He met them in a common home and his first crib was a manger among the animals. His attendants were shepherds from the fields. Despite what you may have been taught, the wise men didn’t show up for a couple of years. In Christ, God was willing to meet us in the midst of everyday life in the most ordinary of circumstances.

Now think about your life. If your life is anything like mine, God often shows up in the most unlikely of places. He comes at the most unexpected of times. Just when I think I’ve reached my limit or hit rock bottom, I find Him there waiting for me. I don’t have to go to some special place nor do I have to touch some sacred relic to find communion with Him. I simply open my heart to Him. I open His Word and He speaks. I obey His commands and I sense His abiding presence.

Readings for tomorrow: Ezekiel 5-8

What’s Next?

Readings for today: Lamentations 3:37-5:22

What comes after lament? That’s a question I often deal with as a pastor. I walk with people through crisis. I sit with people in their grief. I do my best to comfort them as they mourn. I help them process their pain. After making space for all of the heartache, what comes next? After walking through the valley of the shadow of death together, what happens when one gets to the other side? Honestly, in my experience, this is where the hard work really begins.

I think of a woman I once knew who was married for decades. On the outside, things in their family looked good. He was very successful in his business. They were able to travel the world together. Pursue whatever their hearts desired. But after he passed and the funeral was over, the real truth began to emerge. Alcoholism. Abuse. A life of torment and fear. As the widow and I met to process what she was feeling, we talked about her need for healing. Her need to recover. Her need to be patient and give herself time to work through all the emotions she was experiencing. We also talked about what life would look like on the other side. Her desire to be married again. Her desire to pursue some of the dreams her husband had denied her. Her desire to reconnect with their estranged children and recover some of the years they had lost. This would require a lot of introspection and self-reflection. Owning what she needed to own and disowning what she needed to disown. Thankfully, she had the courage to walk the road faithfully before the Lord. She took up hobbies like horseback riding and cooking. She renewed her relationship with her son. She began dating a good man who treated her with the love and respect she deserved. It was beautiful to watch.

We catch Jeremiah at a much earlier, much darker place in the journey. He is still very much processing his pain. The heartache is real. The emotions are visceral. Though the reading is hard, it is good to know we can be raw and real before God. At the same time, we see the stirrings of a new season begin to emerge as well. Jeremiah calling for the people of Israel to think about what comes next after lament. Once they’ve fully grieved, they will need to take some time to reflect and repent and renew their faith and trust in God. “Who is there who speaks and it happens, unless the Lord has ordained it? Do not both adversity and good come from the mouth of the Most High? Why should any living person complain, any man, because of the punishment for his sins? Let’s examine and probe our ways, and turn back to the  Lord. Let’s lift up our hearts and our hands to God in heaven: “We have sinned and rebelled; you have not forgiven.” (Lamentations‬ ‭3‬:‭37‬-‭42‬ ‭CSB‬‬) Jeremiah knows what comes next. He knows the people of God must return to Him if they are to experience the healing and restoration their hearts so desperately long for.

Anyone who has ever walked with grief knows the journey well. It begins in deep darkness where it’s hard to see any light at all. Momentum begins to pick up as we take our initial steps and the darkness doesn’t seem as deep. As we continue walking the road, a light does appear at the end of the tunnel. Eventually, as we keep doing the work, we emerge into the bright sunshine of a new day. God is faithful! He will walk with us through the valley of the shadow of death and as we turn to Him - lifting up our hearts and hands in worship - He promises to cast out all our fear and bring us to green pastures and still waters, to places where we will find our souls restored.

Readings for tomorrow: Ezekiel 1-4

Lament

Readings for today: Lamentations 1:1-3:36

Lament is an invitation from God to bring Him our grief and sorrow, our pain and suffering, our doubts and confusion, our fears and anxieties. Prayers of lament can be focused on the individual or the community. The Book of Psalms contains plenty of prayers where the Psalmist cries out to God for example. The Book of Lamentations, however, is one long prayer of lament from Jeremiah over the death of the holy city of Jerusalem. It is not an easy read. The language is raw and real. The pain and grief is right at the surface for the prophet as he weeps over the destruction of his people and his way of life.

Lament is also a prayer of hope. A prayer prayed from the deepest, darkest recesses of our souls to the only One who can deliver us. It’s a primal cry. When life is stripped down to the studs and we have nothing left. It’s a cry made when we’ve reached the end of ourselves and are sitting in the dust and ashes of what’s left of our lives. When everyone has abandoned us, even those closest to us, and we find ourselves feeling all alone. In such moments - and I’ve had such moments - we find God waiting for us there. It’s powerful. It’s transformative. And it’s why in the midst of our lament, we begin to find hope.

This is what happens to Jeremiah. As he literally sits in the dust and ashes of the city he loves, surrounded by the death and destruction of the people he loves, having witnessed firsthand the horrors of war, rejected by everyone; he finds God waiting for him there. He finds God more than willing to meet him there. He finds God sitting with him in that place and his hopes are renewed. “Because of the Lord’s faithful love we do not perish, for his mercies never end. They are new every morning; great is your faithfulness! I say, “The Lord is my portion, therefore I will put my hope in him.” The Lord is good to those who wait for him, to the person who seeks him. It is good to wait quietly for salvation from the Lord…For the Lord will not reject us forever. Even if he causes suffering, he will show compassion according to the abundance of his faithful love. For he does not enjoy bringing affliction or suffering on mankind.” (Lamentations‬ ‭3‬:‭22‬-‭26‬, ‭31‬-‭33‬ ‭CSB‬‬)

Hope for the believer is not wishful thinking. It is not blind to reality. It does not close its eyes to all the evil and injustice and suffering and pain in our world. It simply looks beyond those things to God. To the One who is faithful. To the One who pours out new mercies every morning. To the One who is good. To the One who rewards those who seek Him. To the One who answers those who wait for Him. To the One who shows compassion and steadfast love to the thousandth generation. This is why Jeremiah holds onto hope and it’s why we can have hope as well.

Readings for tomorrow: Lamentations 3:37-5:22

Suffering

Readings for today: Jeremiah 51, Psalms 137

Today’s reading from Psalm 137 is a gut-wrenching one. It is a song sung from the perspective of those recently exiled to Babylon. Force-marched over 900 miles, they arrive at the Euphrates. Held captive and enslaved, they have lost all hope. They had just witnessed the destruction of their entire way of life. They come to the waters of Babylon and they sit and they weep. Their cries fill the air. They share their memories of better days when they walked the streets of Zion. They are so heartbroken, they long to hang up their instruments and sing no more but their captors force them. Adding insult to injury, they mock them saying, “Sing us one of the songs of Zion.” Sing us one of the songs of deliverance. Tell us stories about the God who abandoned you in your hour of greatest need. It is an incredibly heartbreaking scene. 

It reminds me of a book I once read titled, Conversations with God: Two Centuries of Prayers by African Americans. Scholars have uncovered a treasure trove of prayers going all the way back to the days of slavery and it is powerful to read them. To place oneself in their shoes and imagine their pain and suffering. To hear their hearts as they cry out to God for deliverance and healing and freedom. It is not a book you can read dispassionately. It brings tears to your eyes at times. The raw emotion is moving. It’s also what informs so many of the negro spirituals. Songs like Go Down Moses, Give Me Jesus, and Wade in the Water. Their music and prayers rose out of their pain and gives them an unmatched gravitas that moves hearts to this day.

Psalm 137 ends with a terrible request, “O daughter of Babylon, doomed to be destroyed, blessed shall he be who repays you with what you have done to us! Blessed shall he be who takes your little ones and dashes them against the rock!” (Psalms‬ ‭137:8-9‬) It is horrifying and yet it is as honest and real as it gets. By including it in the canon of Scripture, God is not promising to answer such prayers as much as letting us know He listens to them. No matter how dark our prayers become. No matter how angry we get. Even if we lace our prayers with profanity and frustration. God hears them. God welcomes them. God is a big boy and can handle all we can throw at Him. He is not afraid to get down into the muck and mire. He’s not afraid to dig through the manure pile that our lives can become. He is with us in the midst of the deepest heartaches and terrible tragedies. It doesn’t matter whether we find ourselves in Jerusalem or Babylon. At home or in exile. Feeling blessed or cursed. God is there. We can talk to Him. We can share our deepest thoughts and emotions with Him. We don’t need to be ashamed. We don’t need to hide. He is our Father and He understands our fears. 

Readings for tomorrow: No devotionals on Sundays

Confidence

Readings for today: Jeremiah 49-50

There is nothing like knowing God is on your side. With God, you can endure every hardship. You can overcome every obstacle. You can persevere through every trial. With God, the battle is already won. The power of sin is already broken. The defeat of evil has already been accomplished. With God, no weapon that is formed against you can stand. No scheme of the enemy can prevail. No attack against you will succeed. God is your strength. God is your redeemer. God is your protector. God is the strong warrior who stands at your side.

Consider all Jeremiah has gone through in his life. He has been to the mountaintop and he has lived in the valley of deep shadow and despair. He has been imprisoned. He has been beaten. He has been ostracized by society. He has been persecuted in so many ways. But as he watches his beloved city fall and his beloved people get carried off into exile, he is preserved. God protects him. God keeps him safe. Not only that but God gives him a promise. One day, the Babylonians will fall. One day, they too will be overcome. One day, the Lord will bring His judgment against them and deliver His people yet again. One day, God’s people will return. Why? God is faithful. He is faithful to His promises. He is faithful to His covenant. He loves Israel with an everlasting love. And He loves us the same.

How do I know the God of Israel stands at my side? Jesus Christ. He literally came to earth to show me He is with us. To show me the lengths He is willing to go to save us. Like Jeremiah, Jesus spoke the truth. Like Jeremiah, Jesus was beaten. Jesus was betrayed. Jesus was imprisoned. But unlike Jeremiah, Jesus was not saved. He went to His death in accordance with God’s perfect plan. He laid down His life in order that we might be redeemed. Listen again to how Jeremiah describes it and rejoice in God’s faithfulness…

“This is what the Lord of Armies says: Israelites and Judeans alike have been oppressed. All their captors hold them fast; they refuse to release them. Their Redeemer is strong; the Lord of Armies is his name. He will fervently champion their cause so that he might bring rest to the earth but turmoil to those who live in Babylon.” (Jeremiah‬ ‭50‬:‭33‬-‭34‬ ‭CSB‬‬)

Readings for tomorrow: Jeremiah 51, Psalms 137

One True God

Readings for today: Jeremiah 45-48

Over the years, I’ve been blessed to have friends from many different faith backgrounds and life experiences. Some of my friends are not believers. They are agnostic or atheist. They don’t think there is anything beyond this world. Some of my friends are deists. They believe in a higher power of some sort but not necessarily a Christian one. In fact, many of them would argue all gods are the same. Some of my friends are Muslim. They believe in Allah and what the Prophet Muhammed taught. Some of my friends are Hindu. They believe in a pantheon of gods and goddesses. Some of my friends are Buddhist and their desire is to seek enlightenment. Their god isn’t personal per se though becoming one with him is the very definition of enlightenment. When we have conversations about faith, I often hear my friends say something along the lines of “that’s okay for you Christians to believe, it’s just not for me.” Essentially, you do you and I’ll do me. And while that sounds nice and the epitome of tolerance, it’s actually dangerous. Why? Because Jesus Christ isn’t just the “Christian god.” He is the God of the universe and everyone will one day appear before His judgment seat.

Consider our reading from today. God exercises His judgment over the nations. Each of these nations had their own gods. They each had their own belief systems. They each had their own religions but all of them are still subject to God. They live and move and have their being under His sovereign authority. They exist at His pleasure. They are subject to His righteous judgment. Pharaoh, Philistia, Moab…none of them shall escape. They shall all fall before the Lord. The same will be true with Babylon. It’s the same for every nation on the earth. Every nation that has ever or will ever exist. All of them are subject to the Lord of hosts. This is the mistake so many make when they pursue other religions or worship other gods. They make the same mistake the ancient pagan nations made. They fall into the trap of believing all gods are the same and belief in god is a matter of personal choice. They are wrong. There is only one God who holds all authority in heaven and earth and under the earth and all of us will one day appear before His judgment seat.

Readings for tomorrow: Jeremiah 49-50